Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Roger and Sarah Buzby, Owners of Mainely Coffee, located in Millinocket, ME, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are specialty coffee roasters and tea blenders who specialize in using cascara (aka coffee fruit) in our signature blends. Our customers tend to be those who prefer quality over quantity when it comes to their hot beverages.
Tell us about yourself
Roger's brother first introduced us to roasting coffee at home by sending us a Ziploc baggy filled with beans and no explanation. After clarifying that he wasn't just dividing bags of coffee among the family, he sent us a link to the $1k+ machine he bought to roast coffee in. We couldn't afford that, so we jumped on YouTube and found we could roast coffee with a popcorn popper, and we never looked back. We are constantly in pursuit of the perfect cup, whether it be coffee or tea.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I would say that growing our company to the point where we no longer require an outside source of income has been our biggest accomplishment to date.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The financial stress is the worst. Will we sell enough to pay the bills and pay ourselves? What can we do to ensure that? These are the things that keep us up at night.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Do your due diligence; make sure you know what you're getting yourself into.
- Be sure to do everything by the books, don't cut corners or dodge regulations.
- Never stop learning and never be afraid to ask for help.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://mainelycoffee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MainelyCoffee
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MainelyCoffee/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MainelyCoffee/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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